Fruit-pitting machine.



E. A. VARY.'

FRUIT FITTING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAY 29, 1911.

1,074,398. Patented sept. 30,1913.

my l attorneys coLunmM numana-APH co.,w.\SmNGToN. D. c.

E. AFAM. FRUIT FITTING MACHINE.

v APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1911. I 1,074,393 1 Patented sept. 3o, 1913. 4 I 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Snvcmor QN mam/MM Clttoruegs COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH CD.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

E A VARY FRUIT FITTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 29, 1911.

E. A. VARY. FRUIT FITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1911. 1,074,393. Patented Sept.3o,1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

@am/Mw.

attorneys COLUMBIA PLANuGRAPl-l co., wASHlNG'roN. n. c.

E. A. VARY.

FRUIT FITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1911.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEBT 5.

. mentor Zw (VZ attorneys PII C0., 'SHINGTDN, DV C.

lDitucsscs PLANCGRA ELMER A. VARY, OF MIDDLEPORT, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-:FITTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. so, 1913.

Application filed May 29, 1911. Serial No. 630,011.

To all wlw/m, t may concern Be it known that I, ELMER A. VARY, a citizen of the United States, resi-ding at Middleport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Pitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the-inventiomsuoh as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to Vfruit pitting machines and the` object is to provide improved means for agitating the fruit and feeding the latter to the pitting mechanism proper and further to provide improved means for extracting the pits.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthe application, Figure 1 is a view of the machine in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a view also in elevation, from the rear; Fig. 3 is a section through the feeding rolls witl a portion of the hopper in outline and the mechanism forV agitating the fruit within the hopper in elevation: Fig. 4 is a detail view showing thegearing for driving certain of the moving parts: Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of one of the pitting devices: Fig.

6 is a section of a portion of the device"` shown in Fig. 5 being on the line w-V-w kof Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail showing the ar-4 rangement of the pitting forks: Fig. 8 is a detail view showing a core arranged `to be mounted in a sleeve constituting a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5.V Figs; 9 and 10 are details of the forms of the pitting device proper: Fig. 11 shows the loca-` tion of the pitereceiving device in the` bed of the machine: Fig. 12 is a detail ofa cam for operating the clutch on the driving shaft: Fig. 13 shows a cam in the end ofa slotted shaft and Vmeans for controlling the cam. Fig. 14 shows a sleeve arranged to becarried by the main shaft and provided with ears for the accommodation of Athe cam: Fig. 14a is a top plan view of the. element shown in the `lower part of Fig. 14. Fig. 15 is a detail showing the gears for driving the horizontal shaft from the vertical shaft: Fig. 16 is a plan view of the pitreceiving device: Fig. 17 is abottom plan view of the same: Fig. 18 is a bottom plan view of the plate forming a portion of the pit-receiving device and shown in top plan in Fig. 16: Fig. 19 is an end view of the structure shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18. Fig. 20 is a top plan View of a portion of a modilied form of pit receiving device. Fig. 21 is a plan view of a sheet of rubber or other material, properly perforated, and adapted to be secured to the device shown in Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a section of the modified form of pit receiving device shown in Figs. 20 and 21. Fig. 23 is a detail of a pit receiving device of another form. Fig. 24 is a vertical section through the body portion of the modied form last mentioned. Fig. 25 is a plan view of the fruit detaching device which projects over the circular conveyer. Fig. 26 is a plan view of the ratchet mechanism beneath the bed plate. Fig. 27

shows the ratchet mechanism in elevation.

Fig. 28 is a view in vertical section of the lower portion of the structure of Fig. 5.

y In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable framework having a bed plate 10 supported upon legs 11 and carrying a vertical standard 12 for the accommodation of a shaft 13 which transmits motion from the driving mechanism to the mechanism for feeding the fruit from the hopper to the circularconveyer.

rIhe driving pulley 14 is mounted on a horizontalshaft'l and carries a gear 16 'u meshing with a gear 17 mounted upon a shaft 18 supported in suitable bearings 19 Vcarried by standard 12. The clutch is located between driving pulley 14 and a gear 16 and will be hereinafter described. Shaft 18 carries a gear 2O meshing with a gear 21 upon the vertical shaft 13 and serves to drive the latter. VThe shaft 13 also drives a short horizontal shaft 22 through the medium of gears 23 and 24 and shaft 22 carries a gear 25 meshing with gear 26 on a horizontal shaft 27 carrying the main feed roll 28. Shaft 27 is supported in bearings carried by standards 29 and 30. Shaft 18 carries Vat one end a crank 31 designed to operate the pitt-ing forks carried by a Asuitable device hereinafter described.

In the framework of the machine and supported by standards 32 is a hopper 33 for receiving the fruit and discharging the latter through the operation of the feeding mechanism to the circular conveyer34. Said conveyer 34 is mounted upon vertical shaft 35 andi-is driven-bymechanisrn beneath the bed of the machine operated from the vertigrooves, and as feed roller 28 revolves the cherries or other fruit which have been receive'd by concave portions 37 are moved from their position and caused to drop from the feeding' roller into' cups 40 and are thereby guided to the apertures 41 in conveyer 34.

In Fig. 3 1 have shown an arrangement'by means of which the fruit is constantly agitated andis caused to pass in a certain manner from the hopper to the main feed roller 28. The arm 42 is pivoted to a stationary portion of the framework at 43 and is held in a given position by means of a spring 44 secured at 45. Arm 42 carries a plurality of lingers 46 projecting into the hopperand serving to agitate the fruit in the manner described, upon the operation of the rotating device mounted upon shaft 47. The device last mentioned consists of a collar 49 carry- Ving fingers 48 radiating in several directions and these fingers contact with a portion of arm 42 and press the latter inwardly against the tension of spring 44. The devices just mentioned are mounted in a seiies adjacent the main feedroller 2S and above the latter.

Shaft 47 carries a pinion 50 on one end thereof'and this pinion meshes with a gear wheel 51 carried upon shaft 27. An upper feed roll 52 is mounted on a shaft 53 and is driven through the medium of pinions 54 and 55, the latter of which meshes with gear wheel 51. The upper feed roll is designed to aid in the feeding of the fruit from the hopper to` the main feed roll and is also designed to prevent the fruit from emerging from. the hopper except in the manner desired.

The pitt-ing forks are operated from shaft 18 and crank 31 connected therewith,.said crank being pivotally connected with cross head 61. This cross head has' connected therewith a plurality of vertical rods 62 connected with the lower cross head 63 and signeditoprovide for the proper operation ofthe pitting forks Vand prevent injury to the-forks rigidly mounted. Slide 65 opera-tes in guides 66 andthe latter form a part of bracket 67 mounted upon standard 12.` Secured to slide 65 is a cross bar 63 in which .the threaded stems 69 of the fork-holding devices are mounted. Each fork-holdingdevice includes lower sleeve 70 arranged to receive a slotted' core 71 which core holds the prongs of the fork, cores 71 being connected with stems 69 by means of a threaded bolt- 7 2; The upper portion of this bolt 2 isconnected at-73 with a portion of stein 69,v and the lower threaded portion lof Vbolt 72 is connected.with'the'internal bore 74- of core 71. Between the upperV portion 75 o f sleeve 70 and the lower portion'of stem 69 the collar 76 is provided.l y

Core 71 is provided with longitudinal slots 77 shown in Fig. 8", the slots being a'rranged on the outer surface of the. core and extending from the'bottom to approximately the central portion thereof. At the upper end of each slot is the hole 7 S for receiving they right angular portion :7 9 of each i of the-fork prongs 80. These prongs when lai'ranged in the core inthe manner de: scribed will assume the position shown in Y' Figs. 5 and 7. The central pitting device 1,81 is provided with a head 82 and extends ffrom the central portion of core 71`downwardly and is held ina givenposition by 'lineans of the lower conical end .83 by Ybolt sov 72. The annular recess 83 having 4flattened sides provides for the securing ofthe fork holding device to the cross bai' carried byV yslide 65, by means of a wrench. Y'

Several: forms of' pit-receiving devices may be used in the machine here described. l

The receiving devicev is located in the upper -portionA of the bed plate inV the posit-ion shown in Fig. 11. 1n Figs.l16 to. 19 inclusive 1 have shown a forni in which a .metallic plate isl provided, said plate having achanne'led portion 91 extendinglength-v wise of its upper portion and having the 'side' walls formed in such manner that the plate as a whole will be received and held in the guides 93 forming' a portion of the bed plate proper. rlhe upper plater92 is arranged within the channeledportion 91 and on the underside of this plate 92 a plurality of hinged devices are provided. V1n Fig. 18

Aa bottom plan view ofy plate 92 is shown and 4the hinged devices areV indicated. by 93. vThese devices'v consist ofears arrangedto be secured to the platel 92 by pins 94, said ears 'having' a hinged connection 96 with triangular plates 95 which plates. meet in' the `center of the apertures provided for the re-V ception of the forks.. Such apertures Aare shown Vin Fig.. 17 and are indicated by. 97. Plates 93 are securedV to the lowerfportion of .plate 92 by screws 99 and retain in position Asprings V which are Vdisposed' between iie ist

ist

lower plates 98 and-upper plates 92 of the holders.` v t Triangular plates 95 have apertures 101 in the sides thereof and these apertures register in such manner that a circular opening will be formed at the proper place for each of the prongs 80 of the fork; the central aperture 101 provides for the accommodation of central pitting member'81. lo A further form of pit-receiving device is shown in Figs. V and 21, in which a plate 105 is provided with a channel similar to the channel in the plate previously mentioned, and the plate 105 isvalso provided 15 with apertures 106 for receiving the forks. Within the channel in plate 105 a strip of rubber or other suitable material 106 is secured by means of pins 107. The strip of rubber or other material is provided with slits 108 which intersect slits 109 at points corresponding with the center of apertures 106.` The irst operation of the forks will perforate the strip in the manner shown in Fig. 21, and during the subsequent operation of the forks, when pitting the fruit, the pits will depress the central portion of the strip 106' adjacent to the point of intersection of slits 108 and 109 and thepit will therefore be extracted from the forks. In Fig. 22 a section of the pit-receiving device last mentioned is shown, the section being taken on a line substantially coincident with theslit 108 at the extreme right in Fig. 21. A further form of pit-receiving device is v shown in Figs. 23 and 24. In this form a holding device 110 is provided with apertures 111 and within these apertures metallic cone-shaped members 112 are located. These cone-shaped members are provided at their lower ends with annular anged portions 113. An upwardly extending flange 113 is carried by the upper portion of the cone, this Hange being concave on its outer surface, and the cone and flange are provided with a plurality Vof slits 114 dividing the cone into spring fingers 115. It-will be understood that fingers 115 are designed to act in the same manner as the resilient or spring held devices previously mentioned.

On shaft 15, carrying pulley 14, a clutch 120 is mounted, this clutch being operated by the following mechanism: A member 125 shown in Figs. 14 and 14a comprises a collar withv an arched portion projecting therefrom and having a central stem connected with such portion. The collar encircles the shaftv 15 and throws pulley 14 and the adjacent clutch member into operative position. rIhe arched portion of member 125 passes through a slot 122 in shaft 15 and the stem passes through collar 124, being disposed in slot 122, and is arranged to contact with cam 121 which is also located in slot 122. Collar 124 is rigid and is provided with ears-126having apertures therein for the accommodation ofthe rod 123 which projects through the cam, the shaft and the ears. The rod 123 is provided with a handle 127 and by the operation thereof the cam is caused to engage the stem of member 125 and operate the clutch. The cam carries stop members 128 and 129.

The mechanism beneath the bed plate for giving an intermittent motion to; the circular conveyer is shown in Figs. 26 and 27. 7:: It is obvious that the conveyer must be stopped with the apertures 41 containing the fruit, immediately under the pitting forks, and in this connection attention should be directed to the fruit detaching device 140 which projects above the conveyer 34 and is provided with apertures 141 through which the forks pass, the detaching device or late 140 serving to sever the fruit from the forks on their upward stroke. The apertures 41 are so formed that they will accommodate fruit of various sizes, the fruit falling into trough 116 when the apertures successively come into the position of those shown at the left in Fig. 1. Shaft 35 of the 90 conveyer carries a ratchet wheel 144 operated through the medium of a pawl 145 mounted in arm 146, which arm is in turn operated by a crank 147 on shaft 13. The arm is slotted as at 148 and a roller 149 car- 95 ried by the crank operates in the slot. rlhe pawl comprises a right angled member operating in a bore or recess in the arm, and connected by a sprin 150 with a fiXed member 151. One end o arm 146 enters the enlarged portion of member 152 which has connection with a collar 153 on shaft 35. A tension band 154 surrounds collar 155 connected with the ratchet wheel, the band being provided with a leather lining.

I claim 1. In a fruit pitting machine, a hopper, a feeding roll provided with sockets, annular grooves intersecting the sockets, devices projecting into the grooves for freeing the fruit and means for pitting the fruit.

2. In a fruit pitting machine, a hopper, a feeding roll provided with sockets, annular grooves intersecting the sockets, devices projecting into the grooves for freeing the fruit, means for pitting the fruit and means for agitating the fruit within the hopper.

3. In a fruit pitting machine, a hopper, a vplurality of spring held arms mo-unted adjacent thereto, fingers carried by the arms and projecting into the hopper, a fruit feed- Ving roll, a shaft therefor, and means for operating the agitating devices from said shaft.

4. In a fruit pitting machine, a hopper, a plurality of spring held arms mounted adjacent thereto, fingers carried by the arms and projecting into the hopper, a fruit feeding roll, a shaft therefor, means for operating the agitating devices from said shaft 13/ Y ner-ieee and a second rollI cooperatingV with the roll first mentioned and driven by the means last mentioned.

' 5. In a fruit pitting machine,-a hopper, a framework including a bed plate, standard carried thereby, a vertical shaft mou-nted within the standard, guides carried by the standard, a slide within the guides, pitting mechanism connected withthe slide,- a fruit feeding device, means fori conveying fruit therefrom to the pitting mechanism, means for driving the feeding device from the vertical shaft and a shaft for operating the pitting mechanism and driving the vertical shaft.

' 6. In a fruit pitting machine, ahopper, framework including abcd plate, a standard carried thereby, a vertical-shaft'mount* ed within the standard, guides car'ried'by the standard, a slid-e within vthe guides, pitting mechanism connected with the slide, a fruit feeding device, means for' conveying fruit therefrom to the pitting mechanism, meansfor driving the feeding device from the vertical'shaft and a shaft for operating the pitting mechanism and drivingthe ver'- tical shaft, and means for driving the conveying means from the vertical shaft.

7. In a fruit pitting machine, a pitting device comprising a stem, a sleeve sup-y portedthereby, a core provided with Slots onthel sides thereof and carried within the lower portion of the sleeve, means for holding the core in position, and a plurality of prongs carried by the co-re.

8. In a fruit' pitting machine, a pitting device comprising a stem, a threaded bolt connected therewith, a sleeve carried by the stem and surrounding the bolt, a slotted core carried by thev lower portion of the sleeve and held in position by the bolt, a central pitting member carried by the core, anda plurality of prongs secured within the slots of theV core and projecting from the lower end of the sleeve.

9. In a fruit pitting machine, a pitting device comprising a stem having' a borel in one end thereof, a bolt having threaded connection with the bore, a sleeve surrounding the lower end of the bolt, a slotted core provided with an internal borewithin the lower end of the sleeve, the slotsv of said core' being' arranged on the outer sides thereof, apertures located at the ends of the slots, and prongs provided with right angled end portions disposed with-in the slots, said end portions engaging said apertures.

10. In a fruit pitting machine, a pitting device comprising a stem having a bore in'A one` end thereof, a bolt having threaded connectien with the bore, a sleeve' surrounding the lower end of the bolt, a slotted core provided with an internal bore within the lower A end of the sleeve, the slots of said core being arranged on the outer sidesthereof, ap`er-A tures-located at theendsiof the slot-si, prongs provided with right angled end portionsjdis'; posed within the slots, 'said end portions tingY device havin-gl one end located within the bore ofthe cor'e'and being held in position by the lower end ofthe bolt.l j Y 11. In a fruit pitting machine, a pit receiving device comprising' a block, projecting members carriedby the' block and pro,- ject-ing! from the edges of the" aperturesin` ward-ly toward-the center', saidmeinbers loe-i ing' pivotally mounted alongone edge and when normal position constituting: `to-l gether a plate of rectangular formation.

12.; In a fruit pitting machine, a pit receiving devi'ce 'comprising a block having' apertures therein, and hinged'members projecting"from' the edges of the apertures in-v wardly toward the center, said hinged members -having notches on the edgesthereof correspond-ing withV similar notches on' adjoin` ing hinged members Vandpro'viding for the accommodation 1 of the* pitting device.

13.- Ina fruit pitting machine, a pit re apertures therein,- and hinged members pr'ojecting from the edges of the apertures in wardly toward the center, said hinged miembers` havin-g notches on the edges thereof corresponding with similarl notches; on adthe accommodation kof the' pitting device,

Y hinged members normally position so' that their edges are'fadlja'cent. 14. In a fruit pittingmachine,l aV pit rel ceiving device comprising a block having a plurality of apertures arranged to register with corresponding aperturesV in thereceiving device, and a' plurality of' re's'ilientl'y mounted members projecting inwardly from the edges of the'apertu'res toward the cen'- ter' and arranged to accommodate thepittin'g device, said? membersbeing pivotall-y mounted along one edge and when in normal position constituting together a platel of rec-l i tangular formation. Y

l5. In a fruit pitting machine, a pit receiving deviceV comprising a holdinglmenn ;ed with the holding device adjacent to the: apertures,triangularplates hinged to' thel jplates first mentioned and projecting insaid triangular plates beingprovided with with corresponding notcl'ies of'. adjoining I n'embers when the plates last mentioned areT ,in a substantially horizontal position and {close the aperttu-"es-:A

ceiving ,device comprisingvv bloelr. having .l ap'ei'turesl therein, a plate carriedby one' engaging said apertures, aA central pit- Y ceivin-gf'device comprising a' bloclr having ber provided with apertures, plates connect-V fwardly toward the cen-ter of the apertures,

not-ches on the edges arranged to register" i face' of the bloc'lrand providedion its; under' joining hinged members and providing for"4 Y and a resilient device for: retaining theY lio i 16. In a fruitpitting machine, a pit re-KY side kwith a plurality of hinged devices projecting into the apertures and arranged to meet n the center of said apertures, a second Vplate carried by the lower portion of the block, and a resilient device between Said plates for supporting the hinged members normally in a horizontal position.

17. In a fruit pitting machine, a pitting fork, means for operating the fork including a slidable member, rods slidably connected therewith, springs carried by the rods, a member extending transversely of the rods and connected therewith, a shaft extending at an angle with the member last mentioned, and means for operating the member by said shaft.

18. In a fruit pitting machine, a fruit conveyer, a shaft therefor and mechanism for imparting an intermittent motion to the conveyer shaft, said mechanism including a crank carried by the conveyer shaft, a slotted arm having connection with the crank, a ratchet wheel carried by the other shaft, an offset portion on the arm, said portion carrying a collar mounted on the shaft last mentioned, and a pawl carried by the arm and engaging the ratchet wheel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER A. VARY.

Witnesses:

Mrs. J. S. VARY, M. D. BnNsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

